Improvement in washing-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. THOMPSON. Washing-Machine.

No. 202,889. Patented April 23,1878.

Z'Zj ,0

WITNESSES zmmmm/ ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. THOMPSON. Washing-Machine.

No. 202,889. Patented April 23,1878.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY N. PETiRS, FHOTQ-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON THOMPSON, OF GRAHAM, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,889, dated April 23, 1878; application filed August 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CLINTON THOMPSON, of Graham, in the county of Nodaway and State of Missouri, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a vertical central section of my improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a detail view, and Fig. 3 is a top view thereof, with the scrubber lifted out and turned back.

This invention relates to improvements in washing-machines, wherein the cleansing action is produced by rubbing the fabric between two frictional surfaces.

The nature of the invention consists, mainly,

in the construction and novel arrangement of a tub supported in a removable manner upon the cruciform head of an upright pivot-pin extending downward into the sill of the frame, said cruciform head having one of its arms notched for the reception of the bottom edge of the tub, and laterally extended for the attachment of the lever-connection, whereby the tub and its support are turned in one direction, while the rubber within the tub is turned in the other, as hereinafter shown and described.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates a circular wash-tub, of any suitable material, having upon its inside the radial ribs at, extending from the center to the circumference of the bottom. B represents a horizontal platform, preferably cross-shaped, upon which the said tub is secured, and which is provided with a spindle, b, carrying a washer, 5, having its bearings in a brace, c, on a suitable frame, 0. The spindle rotates freely in its bearings, and when actuated imparts rotary motion to the tub. D indicates a preferably metallic shaft, having its bearings in a bar, 0, connecting the upper ends of the uprights at of the frame, and having rigidly secured upon its lower end a circular scrub board or plate, E. The said bar a is pivoted at one end to one of the uprights d, and at the other end is tenoned, so as to fit in a recess, 01, formed in the upper end of the opposite upright, so as to be removably held therein, permitting said bar to be thrown back for the removal of the scrubber whenever it may be desired. This latter is also radially ribbed upon its under side. The shaft D is provided with an operating-arm, D, having upon its free end an eye, 6, and is connected with the upper portion of a vertically-vibrating lever, F, having its fulcrum at f upon a horizontal arm projecting from frame 0 by means of a pivotal rod, G. This rod is above the said fulcrum. The platform B is connected to the lower end of the said lever by means of a similar pivotal rod, G, hooked or otherwise pivoted to an offset, 9, of the said platform, and to the lower end of the said lever. When vibratory motion is imparted to the said lever the platform will rotate in one direction, and the scrubboard in the opposite direction; consequently a fabric to be cleansed, placed between the ribbed bottom of the tub and the scrub-board, will be subjected to an effective scrubbing 011 both sides, and will be speedily purified.

The ribs are made of wood or metal; or the bottom of the tub and of the scrubber may be sheathed with a corrugated or ribbed metallic sheathing.

As aforesaid, the platform B is cruciform, being composed of two bars, halved into each other at their point of intersection, one of the ends of one of the bars being longer than the remainder, and provided with a curved groove, t. The tub is applied to the platform by engaging the plain ends of the cross-bars composing the latter with the chine of the tub, then forcing the latter into the groove i. The tub is thus prevented from rotating independently of the platform. The latter has its bearing at j upon suitable plates upon the intermediate brace c, and at j upon the lower brace 0. Bar 0, before alluded to, is hinged at one end to one of the uprights of the frame, and is provided at the other with a tenon, that is received in a corresponding open mortise in the other upright.

By disconnecting the rod G from the operating-arm D aforesaid, bar 0 may be swung up into a vertical position, thereby raising the scrubber out of the tub, for removing its contents and refilling with a fresh supply.

I am aware that it is not new to combine with a tub having a ribbed bottom and rotating in one direction a washer having a corre spondingly-ribbed under surfa'ce, and rotating in the opposite direction when operated by a lever common to both.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a rotary washing machine, the cruciform platform B, for supporting the tub, having a central pivot-pin, b, extending downward to the sill, washer z, and extended arm, having the offset 9 for the lever-connection G, and the curved groove t, for the reception of the lower edge of the chine of the tub, against the inner side of which the ends of the other arms are engaged, as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON THOMPSON.

Witnesses: JESSE ROYER, JOSEPH P. ENNIS. 

